Display means for works of art



Oct. 10, 1967 K. H. SCHULZ 3,345,768-

7 DISPLAY MEANS FOR WORKS OF ART Filed Sept. 29, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheef 1 Oct. 10, 1967 K. H. SCHULZ 3,345,758 v DISPLAY MEANS FOR WORKS OF ART Filed Sept. 29, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 'ient position United States Patent 3,345,768 DISPLAY MEANS FOR WORKS OF ART Kenneth H. Schulz, Racine, Wis. (R0. Box 396, Gatlinburg, Tenn. 37738) Filed Sept. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 491,155 2 Claims. (Cl. 40-152.1)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a means of displaying unmounted works of art, and an object thereof is to provide a means of displaying a number of such works in succession.

Another object is to display a group of unmounted works of art, such as those on panels, in succession and in the same frame, to enable a purchaser to more conveniently compare one work with another.

Another object is to provide a means of displaying unmounted works of art for viewing by a purchaser who sits comfortably in a chair While a sales persons displays the works individually and in succession.

Another object is to provide a means to hold a portfolio containing a number of works of art in a convenand from which works can be selected at will for display.

Another object is to display works of art in a manner that prevents unnecessary handling by the purchaser often causing damage.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the frame of the invention which a work of art has been inserted for display. FIG. 2 is an end view of the frame of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the frame of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken at 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section of the frame taken at 55 of FIG. 1.

Referring again to the drawings, a frame 10, having a display opening is supported by legs 12 and '14, and 16 and 18 at a convenient viewing angle, as shown in FIG. 2. Legs 16 and 18 are pivoted, as at 20 and 22, by bolts having wing nuts, to permit these legs to be collapsed against the frame when the latter is to be transported.

Frame 10, in this instance, has fixed rearwardly and integrally thereto a sub-frame 24 comprising members 26, 28, '30 and 32. A glass panel 34 is fitted within subframe 24 and in abutment with the rear face of frame 10, as shown in FIG. 5. A mat 36 of fiber board or similar material, of the type usually employed to provide an ornamental border for a print or painting, is placed against glass panel 34. Mat 36 has cut therein a display opening 38 of a suitable size, which opening in this instance, has bevelled edges as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

A door frame 40 is provided comprising members 42, 44, 46 and 48. Frame 40 rests against the mat 36. Legs 12 and 14 are mounted on sub-frame members 26 and 3,345,768 Patented Oct. 10, 1967 30 by screws 50, 52, 54 and 56 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Provision is made for legs 12 and 14 to receive frame members 42 and 46 in a manner as shown at 58, 60, 62 and 64. It will be clear that screws 50, 52, 54 and 56 will secure frame 40 against the back surface ofmat 36, maintaining the latter in place. A trough 66 is provided, forming a continuation of frame member 30..as shown in FIG. 5, and comprises a member 68 and a strip 70. Member 68 and strip 70 are secured to frame member 30 by screws 54 and 56, and other means if necessary.

A door 72 fits within frame 40, and comprises a frame 74 consisting of members 76, 78, and 82, suitably secured together. A panel 84 of fiber board or similar material is coextensive with frame 74, and is secured thereto as shown in FIG. 5. A pair of hinges 86 and 88 are mounted on frame members 46 and 80 and permit door 72 to be placed in the position shown in the rearwardlyopen state, of FIG. 5. A pair of locking members 90 and 92 are pivotally mounted on member 42 and are positioned as in FIG. 3, to lock the door 72. When door 72 is to be opened, as in FIG. 5, locking members 90 and 92 are turned to the position shown. Across member 94 is secured to legs 16 and 18, the purpose of which will be made clear. A handle 96 is secured to member 76 to facilitate the opening and closing of door or panel 72.

When the display frame is to be used, door 72 is opened as shown in FIG. 5, and the work of art, such as a painting in panel form is positioned as shown and facing the opening 38, and the door 72 is then closed. The work of art will then appear as in FIG. 1, giving the impression that it is permanently framed. A purchaser is usually shown a group of paintings or similar works of art in succession, from which group one or more can be chosen.

In order to conveniently display a number of works in a group, and in succession, a portfolio 100 is provided and which is of a capacity to receive a number of works as indicated at 102. Portfolio 100 can be of fiber board and folded so as to have two covers as shown, and is inserted between legs 12 and 14, and rests at its lower edge in trough 66. For convenience in selecting works for dis play, the latter can be withdrawn singly from portfolio 100 to replace a work previously displayed and removed from the display opening. Portfolio 100 rests at a convenient angle against a transverse member 94. Portfolio 100 is partly broken away in FIG. 3 in order to show details of the frame that would be concealed thereby.

This invention permits works of art to be individually displayed in succession, and in the same frame, thus eliminating the confusion and uncertainty when viewing paintings which are hung in various frames on a wall. Thus the attention of the purchaser is not distracted by a profusion of frames, but each work can be clearly compared to the others shown.

Chains 104 and 106 serve to limit the rearward position of legs 16 and 18.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A display means for exhibiting a work of art, comprising in combination a frame having a display opening defined by a lower horizontal edge, upwardly-extending legs secured rearwardly to said frame and transversely embracing said opening, a panel intermediate said legs and adapted to secure said work of art in said opening and hinged to said frame adjacent said lower horizontal edge, a horizontal, rearwardly-extending portfolio-supporting means secured intermediate said legs, and adjacent said horizontal edge, second legs pivotally secured to said first legs, and an upwardly-positioned transverse member secured to said second legs to support said portfolio in a reclining position.

-2. A display means for exhibiting a work of art, including means to support a portfolio, comprising, in combination a frame having a display opening defined by a lower horizontal edge, upwardlyextending horizontallyspaced legs secured rearwardly to said frame, a panel adapted to secure said work of art in said opening, and being hinged to said frame adjacent said lower edge, a horizontal, rearwardly-extending portfolio-supporting means fixed adjacent said horizontal edge to support said portfolio, horizontally-spaced upwardly-extending second legs, pivotally secured to said frame and embracing said opening, and an upwardly-positioned transverse member secured to said second legs to support said portfolio in a reclining position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,104,219 7/1914 Polverino 40l52 1,388,010 8/1921 Watson 40152.1 1,955,509 4/1934 Moeckel 40-125 X 2,245,363 6/1934 Price 40152.1 2,636,702 4/1953 Brody 40l52.1 X 2,649,799 8/1953 Spertus 40l52 2,251,151 5/1966 Sherrill 40l52 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPLAY MEANS FOR EXHIBITING A WORK OF ART, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A FRAME HAVING A DISPLAY OPENING DEFINED BY A LOWER HORIZONTAL EDGE, UPWARDLY-EXTENDING LEGS SECURED REARWARDLY TO SAID FRAME AND TRANSVERSELY EMBRACING SAID OPENING, A PANEL INTERMEDIATE SAID LEGS AND ADAPTED TO SECURE SAID WORK OF ART IN SAID OPENING AND HINGED TO SAID FRAME ADJACENT SAID LOWER HORIZONTAL EDGE, A HORIZONTAL, REARWARDLY-EXTENDING PORTFOLIO-SUPPORTING MEANS SECURED INTERMEDIATE SAID LEGS, AND ADJECENT SAID HORIZONTAL EDGE, SECOND LEGS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID FIRST LEGS, AND AN UPWARDLY-POSITIONED TRANSVERSE MEMBER SECURED TO SAID SECOND LEGS TO SUPPORT SAID PORTFOLIO IN A RECLINING POSITION. 